The FCC, as expected (CD June 6 p1), ordered the CE industry to comply with the Commission’s existing mandate deadline, barely 3 weeks off, of DTV tuners in 50% of new 25-36” sets. But there’s no enforcement plan. The FCC denied the CE industry’s petition to eliminate that deadline and moved up the deadline for 100% compliance for mid-sized TV receivers, from July 1, 2006, to March 1, 2006. The new date is the one the CE industry suggested if the 50% deadline was eliminated.

The FCC wants input on rule changes needed to implement the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (CSEA), signed in Dec. by President Bush as part of a wider HR- 5419 legislation creating a spectrum relocation trust fund. The fund guarantees use of eligible frequency auction revenue to compensate federal agencies for moving off the 216-220 MHz, 1432-1435 MHz, 1710-1755 MHz, 2385- 2390 MHz bands. The Act requires all auctions of eligible frequencies to raise at least 110% of total estimated federal users’ relocation costs, but doesn’t define “total cash proceeds.” The Commission in a declaratory ruling Thurs. defined “total cash proceeds,” for purposes of CSEA, as “winning bids net of any applicable discounts, such as small business bidding credits.” The FCC asked for comments on possible modifications to implement CSEA and update its spectrum rules, including: (1) Revising the reserve price rule to ensure auctions of frequencies eligible under SCEA aren’t concluded without raising 110% of the estimated federal user relocation costs. (2) Options for preserving availability of tribal land bidding credits in eligible frequencies auctions. (3) Increasing FCC discretion with respect to amounts of interim bid withdrawal and additional default payments. (4) Setting procedures in advance of each auction for apportioning bid amounts among licenses in a package. (5) Changing payment rules and procedures for broadcast construction permits won at auction to conform to those for non-broadcast licenses. (6) Facilitating use of small business consortia. The action moves the Commission closer to auctioning spectrum for advanced wireless services (AWS), the agency said. The 1710-1755 MHz band accounts for half the spectrum the Commission plans to auction as early as June 2006 for AWS, including 3G services. Wireless Bureau interim chief Catherine Seidel told reporters the FCC is “on target for the June 2006 [AWS] auction date but there are a number of things that need to happen between now and then, [especially] acting on reconsideration petitions” pending before the Commission. The FCC is expected to act on petitions for reconsideration of the AWS I (1710-1755 MHz and 2110-2155 MHz) rules in the next couple of months, sources said. NTIA is expected to notify the FCC in Dec.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice stating that, at the request of Japan, a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel (DSP) is reviewing the U.S.' use of "zeroing" in antidumping (AD) proceedings and certain related matters.

MANCHESTER, U.K. -- The Internet is a powerful communication tool, but it’s also a threat to traditional business, speakers said Thurs. at an Internet Services Providers’ Assn. (ISPA) U.K. seminar here. In addition to sparking obvious dangers such as cybercrime and security breaches, the Internet is upending time-honored business models and roiling legal theory, they said. The U.K., at least, is “going from nowhere to somewhere very unfamiliar, very fast,” said Stephen Speed, dir. of the Dept. of Trade & Industry’s communications & content industries unit.

The FCC, as expected (CED June 6 p1), ordered the CE industry essentially in 3 weeks to comply with the Commission’s existing DTV tuner mandate deadline for DTV tuners in 50% of new 25-36” sets, but without an enforcement plan, as had been expected. The FCC also denied the CE industry’s petition to eliminate that deadline and moved up the deadline for 100% compliance for mid-sized TV receivers from July 1, 2006, to March 1, 2006. Ironically, the new date is one the CE industry had suggested as a goodwill tradeoff for eliminating the 50% deadline.

With universal service fund (USF) charges soaring for wireline and wireless carriers alike, the Bells, long- distance providers, rural phone companies, mobile carriers and cable TV operators are pressing for changes in the funding formula. But that’s where agreement ends.

Verizon has no intention of cutting its prices on broadband to match an SBC promotional price of $14.95 a month for new DSL customers, CEO Ivan Seidenberg said Tues. He declined to provide numbers on VCast, the Verizon Wireless platform that lets customers watch TV- style offerings on special video over EVDO phones.

Potential for breaches and simple bureaucratic abuse is high under a system set up by the Real ID Act, panelists at an Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) conference said Mon. The Real ID Act, signed by President Bush last month and to take full effect in 3 years, mandates new rules for issuing driver’s licenses and orders states to open their databases to all others. A strong argument for the bill was tracking possible terrorists to prevent another 9/11. Dennis Bailey of the Coalition for Secure Drivers License, the lone group supporting the law at the event, endured friendly jabs from panelists and several heated audience questions.

BRUSSELS -- European Commission (EC) oversight of content, TV, radio frequency management, and Internet security would be viewed through the lens of convergence, under a proposal being presented today (Wed.) by Information Society & Media Comr. Viviane Reding. The perspective shift would mean “putting all the eggs in one basket,” Reding said here Tues. at a European Telecom Network Operators’ Assn. (ETNO) conference on next- generation networks (NGNs). Acknowledging the political risk, Reding said the convergence approach is the road to success in this “fascinating time.”

BRUSSELS -- European Commission (EC) oversight of content, TV, radio frequency management and Internet security would be viewed through the lens of convergence, under a proposal being presented today (Wed.) by Information Society & Media Comr. Viviane Reding. The perspective shift would mean “putting all the eggs in one basket,” Reding said here Tues. at a European Telecom Network Operators’ Assn. (ETNO) conference on next- generation networks (NGNs). Acknowledging the political risk, Reding said the convergence approach is the road to success in this “fascinating time.”